Masque Up
by Alesia Pullins

All About Facial Oils

It’s that time of year again when we need to rotate our skincare products... most of all the moisturizers! I don’t fret too much over this since stepping into the wonderful world of facial oils. It’s the easiest way to adjust the amount of moisture in your routine, whether you’re looking for an increase or something lighter. Before we get into my recommendations, let’s dispel two vicious rumours about facial oils:

“They cannot be used on oily skin.”Believe it or not, this is – false! Oily skin tends to be a result of under moisturized skin (and, of course, genetics). When the skin senses an imbalance in moisture, it kicks into overdrive by producing sebum. Sebum is what causes clogged pores and infections (pimples), especially when produced in abundance. While sebum is needed for healthy skin, too much can cause acne. The best way to combat an overproduction of sebum is by being vigilant about hydrating your skin. This is where facial oils come in. A quality facial oil will effectively hydrate your skin, leaving no need for it to release the reserves of sebum. In fact, many people with acneic skin attribute facial oils to lowering their outbreaks. Nature is weird.

“Facial oils will cause breakouts.”Well, this depends on what you use. As I mentioned earlier, quality is key when selecting a facial oil. All oils are not created equal. The best way to determine what oil is best for you is to first check its comedogenic rating. Comedones are skin-colored bumps on your skin. The most common comedones are open (blackheads) and closed (whiteheads). Both appear on the surface of your skin, usually around your oily spots like the forehead, nose, and chin. Sebum and bacteria fill your pores and result in comedones. Of course, we want to use products that prevent this altogether. The best way to do this is to take a glance at the list of ingredients on a skincare item. The first ingredient will tell you all you need to know. Google “name of product” + “comedogenic rating” for an idea of how your skin will react. All of my recommendations have a rating between 0–2 on a scale of 0–5. If you’re acne-prone or have sensitive skin, stay in the 0s. Even if your skin can handle a bit more than average, I wouldn’t go above 2. Don’t play with fire when it comes to your face, friends.

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